Recitals continue at St Swithun’s Church in Retford with a contribution from John Keys, currently the Director of Music at St Mary’s Church, Nottingham. He is an organist widely known for the outstanding quality of the choir at St Mary’s and for the hundreds of hymn tunes that he has recorded on CDs for use by many churches in their services.
John will perform works by Charles Villiers Stanford, Joseph Bonnet, Eugène Gigout and the Symphonie V of Charles-Marie Widor at the recital on Thursday 19th June. Mr Keys will present the complete Symphonie, whose final movement—the celebrated Toccata – gained renown after its inclusion in Princess Margaret’s wedding in 1960. It is rumoured that he may soon retire, but he continues to hold St Swithun’s organ in high esteem, having performed Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries there in 2022.
Light lunches will be available from 12.15pm, with the recital commencing at 1.00pm and lasting for one hour. Admission is free, with a retiring collection to support the upkeep of this fine instrument.